Liquid container opener



Jan. 22, 1952 J. P. GALLANT LIQUID CONTAINER OPENER 2 SHEETS-SHEET lFiled May 17, 1949 INVENTOR. ('Phlorome aZZam /mm M E Mm M .W Lr A, P

E6, a NAI Jan. 22, 1952 Filed May 17, 1949 J. P. GALLANT LIQUIDCONTAINER OPENER 2 SI-IEETS-Sl'lEET 2 n INVENTOR. Zorome Ca. ZZan i @ymzwf@ Patented Jan. 22, `1952 LIQUID CONTAINER OPENER Joseph PhiloromeGallant, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada Application May 17, 1949, SerialNo. 93,795

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a can opener, and more particularly to adevice for opening containers or cans having liquid therein.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for opening canscontaining evaporated milk, juices, or other liquids, the device beingprovided with a means for severing the can end to provide a pouringopening in said end, and shaping a pouring spout adjacent the opening tofacilitate the dispensing of the contents of the can.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which will form apouring opening and spout in a can upon a simple manual pressure thereonwhereby the entire contents of the con tainer can be dispensed with easeand accuracy.

A` further object of the invention is to provide a can opener which isextremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout thesame:

Fig-ure 1 .is a side elevational view of the can opener, with partsbroken away and in section, according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the can opener;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the can opener;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan View of the can opener;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the opener, showingthe opener in position on a can during the formation of the pouringopening, the upper end cf the can being shown in section;

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 5, but showing the position of theopener at the completion of the spout forming operation;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view, showing the openerbeing used for enlarging the pouring opening;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the slot in the punchin engagement with the edge of the can to prevent the opener fromslipping during use;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of the can, showing a pouringopening formed by the angular prong;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9, but showing the shape of thepouring opening of Figure 9 after the punch has been inserted therein;

Figure 1l is a fragmentary side elevational view of the opener, showingthe use of the angular member for forming a pouring openingin the top ofa can, the can having a projecting lip or rim;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the opener, showingthe use thereof in forming a pouring spout, the can having the sameconstruction as the can of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, showing theuse ofthe opener in forming a pouring spout, the can not having aprojecting lip thereon;

Figure 14 is a top plan view of a can, showing the shape of the pouringopening and the spout formed by the operation of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a `fragmentary side elevational View, showing a furthermethod of using the opener in forming a pouring opening;

Figure 1G is a fragmentary side elevational view of the opener and acan, the can having a projecting lip or ledge, and showing the opener inposition on the can at vthe beginning of the opening operation; and

Figure 17 is a fragmentary side elevational view, showing the punch ofthe opener being used for enlarging the pouring opening.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the can opener comprises a handlewhich may be fabricated of any suitable material such as plastic, woodor metal. The handle 30 is provided with a cutout 3l to enable the userto comfortably and conveniently grip the handle in the hand, and thehandle 30 is also provided with an opening 32 adjacent one of its endsfor the projection there through of a nail orthe like, whereby the canopener can be suspended in an out of the way position when not in use.

Projecting from the other end of the handle 30 is a cylindrical pin orpunch 33 which is i preferably fabricated of suitable metal such assteel. The outer end of the punch 33 is provided with a pointed end 34which serves to pierce the top of a can upon application of a downwardlydirected manual pressure on the handle 30. The punch 33 Yis securelyseated in the handle 30' and arranged adjacent the punch 33 is a prongor angular member 35. The prong 35 is also fabricated of a suitablematerial, such as steel, and the prong includes a shank 3e that issecurely seated in the endof the handle 35i. The prong 35 includes apair of side portions or members 31 and 38 which are arranged angularlywith respect to each other. The side member 31 is provided with adiagonally extending tapered edge 39, while the other sidevmember 33also has a tapered -edge 4U. Each of the edges 39 and 40 of the sidemembers of the prong 35 is bevelled to define a sharp cutting edge for apurpose to be later described. l

The lower or outer end of the prong 35 is bevelled as at 4l to define asharp tip whereby the prong 35 can be used for piercing the top or endof a can as desired. The prong 35 is cut away, as at 42, to dene anopening for receiving a bottle cap, whereby the device of the pres- 3ent invention can be used for removing a cap from a bottle. Further theopening 42 facilitates the cleaning or washing of the can opener.

The cylindrical punch 33 is providedV with a slot 43 which is adapted toreceive therein a portion of a can, as shown in Figure 8, wherebyslippage of the can opener will be prevented during the formation of thepouring spout.

Referring to Figure 5, there is shown a portion of a can or container 44which has liquid therein, such as evaporated milk or fruit juice, orother liquids. The container 44 includes a cylindrical side wall 45 andan end Wall 45- secured thereto. To forni a pouring opening fordispensing the contents of the can, the can opener is arranged so thatthe pointed end 34 of the punch 33 is in engagement with the end 45 ofthe can 44. Then, upon application of a downwardly directed manualpressure on the handle of the can opener, the pointed end 34 will piercethe end 4E of the can and the punch 53 will move or assume the positionshown in Figure 5. After the can opener has been removed from the can,the liquid contents thereof can be dispensed orpoured through theopening 4l in the end 45 of the can.

Further, a pouring spout can be formed in the can to facilitate thedispensing ofthe contents and to insurethat the contents will beaccurately dispensed from the can. The pouring spout is' formed as shownin Figure 6 wherein the punch 33 is shown projecting through the opening4l in the end 46 of the can and the seam 45 of the can is positioned inthe slot 43 of the punch 33. Then, upon outward movement of the canopener from the position shown in Figure 5 to the position shown inFigure 6, the prong will move into engagement with the side wall 45 ofthe can 44 and thereby bend the sidewall'lli inwardly thus forming apouring spout or lip.

In the event that the liquid in the can 44 is of a high viscosity or isthick, the opening 4'! may be enlarged whereby the liquid can be quicklydispensed from thecan when the can is tilted. Thus, in Figure 7, the,prong 35 is shown in use for enlarging thepouring opening in the end 4tof the can. In Figure 8, there is shown a fragmentary side elevationalview of the prong 33 and this view illustrates the positioning of aportion of the seam 48 of the can 44 in the slot 43 f to prevent thepunch 33 from slipping during the formation ofthe pouring spout. InFigure 9, there is shown, a portion of the end 46 of the can 44, suchend being provided With apouring opening 45 of triangular shape. theopening 49 having been formed by the triangular shaped prong 35. InFigure 10, the opening 49 has been further enlargedas at 5B by meansofthe punch 33 and the opening, as shown in Figure l0, may be used forthe dispensing therethrough of the contents of the can-44.V

Referring to Figure 1'1, the can opener is shown being used for forminga Pouring opening in the end of a can 5l. The construction of the can 5|is slightly different from the can 44 in that the can 5Il includes acylindrical side wall 52, and end 53, and projecting from each end ofthe can 5l is a lip or rim 54. The end 53 of the can 5I can be piercedto form a pouring opening by arranging the bevelled tip of the prong 35in engagement with the top or end 53 of the aan 5l and then unen@limitation 0f a manually directed ressensS 9.11 the; handle 39. theprime l, slot 43.

35 will pierce the end 53 of the can to form a pouring opening 55 forthe egress therethrough of the liquid contents of the can. In Figure l2,the can opener is shown being used for forming a pouringspout in the can5l. Thus, the end 53 of the can 5I is punctured by the prong 35 and theseam 56 of the can 5l is arranged in the Then, upon outward movement ofthe opener, the prong 35 will force the sidewall 52 inwardly, thusproviding a pouring lip or spout for the accurate and facile dischargetherethrough of the contents of the can.

In Figure 13, the can opener is shown being used for forming a pouringspout in a can 44. Referring to Figure 14, there is shown a fragmentarytop plan view of a portion of the end 4G of the can 44, the end 45 beingprovided with a pouring opening 5l and discharge spout, the opening andslots being formed according to the method shown in Figure 14. In Figure15, the can opener is shown being used for forming a different shapedpouring opening in the end of the can 5I. Thus, the prong 35 is arrangedin engagement with the end of the can and then pressure is applied tothe handle whereby the prong 35 pierces the end of the container andmoves to the position shown in Figure 15. After removal of the canopener from the can, the contents can be dispensed or discharged throughthe opening in the end of the can. The can opener is shown in positionon the can 5|, in Figure 16, at the beginning or initial step forforming the pouring opening by means of the punch` 33. Figure 17 is afragmentary side elevational view showing the use of the can opener inenlarging the pouring opening in the end 46 of the can 44, the enlargedpouring opening being especially useful when the contents of the can 44'are viscous or thick.

What I claim:

l. In a device for forming a pouring opening and discharge spout in acan, a handle, a punch provided with a pointed end projecting from anend of said handle, said punch being provided with a slot for receivinga portion of said can, a prong arranged adjacent said punch and securedto said handle, said prong including a pair of side portions arrangedangularly with respect to each other, the free ends of said sideportions being tapered upwardly, and said side portions being eachprovided with a beveled cutting edge.

2. In a deviceor forming a pouring opening,r and discharge spout in acan, a handle, a. punch provided with a pointed end projecting from saidhandle, said punch being provided with a slot for receiving a portion ofsaid can, a prong arranged adjacent said punch and secured to saidhandle, said prong including a pair of side portions arranged angularlywith respect to each other, the free ends of said side portions beingtapered, and said side portions being each provided with a cutting edge.

JOSEPH PHILOROME GALLANT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 21,243,511 Sowers 1 May 27, 194].24.205492.

